<figure> <img alt="A white sign reads “CNN working press” in red and black text." src="https://platform.vox.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/gettyimages-2295474426.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> CNN and Politico have been banned from traveling with the press pool on Trump trips. | Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-freedom-of-speech-and-ending-federal-censorship/">executive order</a> aimed at "restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship." However, over a year later, his administration is reportedly using government power to target speech it opposes.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In 2025, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr urged broadcasters to take action against <a href="https://www.vox.com/culture/461948/jimmy-kimmel-pulled-trump-fcc-charlie-kirk">Jimmy Kimmel</a> following comments related to Charlie Kirk's death. In September of the same year, Kimmel stated that the FCC intervened to prevent his show from airing an interview with James Talarico, a Democratic Senate candidate for Texas.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In September 2026, Trump barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House due to their coverage. A federal judge subsequently blocked this ban, but CNN and Politico have been prohibited from traveling with the press pool on Trump trips.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The issue of free speech extends to college campuses, where Republican lawmakers in states like <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/20/ut-system-vote-streamline-academic-program-cuts-mock-funeral-texas/">Texas</a> have imposed restrictions on student protests and increased control by governor-appointed university boards over academic content. In 2025, <a href="https://pen.org/report/americas-censored-campuses-25-web-of-control/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">15 states</a> enacted laws that limit educational content or reduce protections for free expression on campuses.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To discuss the implications for free speech in the US and First Amendment rights, <em>Today, Explained</em> co-host Noel King interviewed <a href="https://www.fire.org/about-us/our-team/greg-lukianoff">Greg Lukianoff</a>, president and CEO of the <a href="https://www.fire.org/">Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression</a> (FIRE).</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In their conversation, Lukianoff expressed concern about the current status of free speech, stating, "The status of free speech is in great peril, both on and off campus. It’s about as bad as I’ve ever seen it." He noted a significant number of backlash cases related to Charlie Kirk, including one involving an ex-cop who served 37 days in jail for sharing a Trump meme.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lukianoff highlighted various incidents over the past two years, including the ban of CNN from the White House and protests by students regarding the situation in Gaza. He expressed concern that the current climate reflects a division where different groups claim their speech is being restricted.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He noted a shift in the political landscape, stating, "For most of my 25-year career, you could rely on a civil libertarian aspect of the left and a libertarian aspect of the right that would often agree on almost nothing except for things like freedom of speech. And right now, I think we’ve become all culture war all the time."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Lukianoff emphasized the importance of supporting free speech for all perspectives, stating, "The only way that you show you believe in freedom of speech is by saying, 'I hate that guy, but I think you should have freedom of speech.'" He expressed concern that society may be losing the shared value of free speech.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He also discussed the contrast between Trump's initial promises regarding free speech and the current actions of his administration, suggesting that while some in the administration may support free speech, Trump's approach appears authoritarian.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Looking ahead, Lukianoff expressed hope for the long-term future of free speech, citing the advantages of societies that uphold this principle. However, he acknowledged concerns about the current state and the challenges ahead.</p>
SOURCE: Vox PUBLISHED: 2026-10-10 11:00:00